Permitted development rights

Nicky Gavron: Permitted development rights were introduced into London Central Activity Zone in May 2019. Have you been monitoring the conversion of central London offices into residential buildings via permitted development rights? if so, how many conversions have you seen since then?

The Mayor: Through my London Plan, I supported a co-ordinated approach to the introduction of Article 4 Directions by the CAZ boroughs to remove office to residential permitted development rights before the exemptions expired in May 2019. This was to ensure that London’s nationally-significant offices in defined areas in and around the CAZ and Northern Isle of Dogs are safeguarded. All ten of the CAZ boroughs introduced Article 4 Directions and therefore no offices in these defined areas were converted into residential buildings through the permitted development route. Conversions of offices to residential through conventional planning permissions are recorded on the London Development Database. We will provide this information to you.

Crossrail 3 (1)

Keith Prince: What is your proposed route for Crossrail 3?

The Mayor: As you know the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on Transport for London’s (TfL) network and finances. My discussions with Government have focused on securing a funding package which enables TfL to continue to operate effectively despite a huge drop in passenger numbers and fare revenue. I am pleased that we have secured a settlement to complete Crossrail and have received assurances from Government that it will safeguard the Crossrail 2 route. To date I have not had any discussions with government regarding Crossrail 3. No alignment for such a project has been confirmed as yet and, in the current climate, we need to focus on funding our existing assets.

Crossrail 3 (2)

Keith Prince: Have you had any discussions with the Government on Crossrail 3?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/4642.

Euston Road Eastbound Traffic Speed (1)

Keith Prince: What was the average speed of traffic eastbound on Euston Road over the first week of December 2020?

The Mayor: The ANPR cameras used to measure traffic speeds on the Euston road were removed as part of a pedestrian improvement scheme at the junction of Euston Road and Churchway Road. They were reinstated on 11th December enabling data to be collected across 2 links eastbound, link 2508 and link 2509 (see map), for the second week of that month.

Euston Road Westbound Traffic Speed (2)

Keith Prince: What was the average speed of traffic westbound on Euston Road over the first week of December 2020?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/4620.

Crossrail (1)

Shaun Bailey: What is your assessment of the amount of lost fares revenue due to the delays in Crossrail?

The Mayor: As set out in the Transport for London (TfL) Board Supplementary papers for 9 December 2020, TfL’s Budget submission to the GLA included a £200m revenue impact from the recently announced six month delay to the opening of the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood (stage 3), from November 2021 to the first half of 2022.As set out in the Transport for London (TfL) Board Supplementary papers for 9 December 2020, TfL’s Budget submission to the GLA included a £200m revenue impact from the recently announced six month delay to the opening of the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood (stage 3), from November 2021 to the first half of 2022.

Planning 'call-in' powers

Andrew Boff: Can you please confirm whether you intend to publish guidelines on which types of development you will ‘call-in’, and if so when this will be published?

The Mayor: Article 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Mayor of London) Order 2008 makes provision for me to give the local planning authority a direction that I will be the local planning authority if I consider:
application relates is of such a nature or scale that it would have a significant impact on the implementation of the spatial development strategy;
Further in deciding whether to give a direction I must take account –
(a) where the application relates to development which comprises or includes the provision of more than 150 houses, flats, or houses and flats of the extent to which the council of the London Borough in which the development is or is to be situated is achieving, and has achieved the applicable development plan targets for new housing, including affordable housing;
(b) in relation to all applications, of the extent to which the council of the London Borough is achieving, and has achieved any other targets set out in the development plan which are relevant to the subject matter of the application.

OPDC’s Reliance on Uncertain Funding Sources and the Need for Resilience

Caroline Pidgeon: Do you share my concerns at OPDC’s overreliance on the prospect of successfully applying for the National Homebuilding Fund, especially given the Government’s increasing desire to move funding away from London in many respects? How are you ensuring OPDC’s new ‘shift of focus’ and new plan are resilient and robust?

The Mayor: OPDC is in close dialogue with MHCLG and Homes England to make the case for infrastructure investment to secure the huge housing, employment and regeneration potential at Old Oak. The strategic case for such investment, and the mobilisation of the extensive government land holdings at Old Oak, has previously been confirmed by government, so a bid for funding to the forthcoming National Homebuilding Fund (NHBF) should be well received.
Although an initial government grant to kickstart development is needed, funding will come from various other sources, including the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), Section 106 agreements and future delivery partnership investments.
I am confident that OPDC’s approach to securing the regeneration of Old Oak is the right one, and subject to securing an initial injection of funding from the NHBF, and an agreement to bring forward the government-owned land, this will provide a robust and resilient basis to work with partners to deliver London’s largest Opportunity Area.

Biodiversity Considerations on OPDC Land

Caroline Pidgeon: What measures are in place to ensure biodiversity is retained as much as possible on land within the OPDC area and that the replacement of felled trees happens as much as possible?

The Mayor: OPDC’s draft Local Plan includes policies requiring developments to deliver a net gain in biodiversity and protection or replacement of trees. The policy also secures the delivery of new mature and semi-mature trees.
Within planning applications developers must submit ecology assessments which must show whether any biodiversity is threatened, what its status is, how the developer intends to protect it and, if it is impacted, how they intend to replace it. Applications are required to demonstrate that they meet both the biodiversity net gain and London Plan Urban Greening Factor targets.
OPDC has recently commissioned the London Wildlife Trust to develop a biodiversity study. This will map ecological assets, set out recommendations for how developments can maximise biodiversity and which plant species best support local ecology and climate resilience. It is also developing a focussed planting strategy for Victoria Road, where many of OPDC’s key development sites are located.